By Staff Writer
Unopposed Faleata 3 Member of Parliament, Lealailepule Mr. Rimoni Aiafi, waved off as dirty politics, serious allegations that he was recently involved in a road accident that killed a person
The fatal hit and run accident reportedly killed a university student and police are looking for the car and driver.
Lealailepule is alleged to be the driver in several social media postings circulated widely during the week.
“Dirty politics has been playing out extensively on social media as part of a smear campaign against the Government in the general elections, so I’m not surprised at being targetted,” Lealailepule reacted.
“It started with claims on social media that I had switched over to FAST and when that did not work they come up with this one.”
The Faleata MP has complained to the police who reportedly traced the allegations to a woman who claimed she heard it from another woman.
Lealailepule is alleged to have been in the car with a woman when the victim was run over and killed at Vaitele.
“Must admit that the people behind this should sell their rare talent to Hollywood, of making up stories and fabricating events, because they are good.”
“These people can make believers of even the most sceptical person with their special skills of making fake news and turning them into the gospel truth.”
The MP was very serious however, at the added grief these allegations have on the family of the victim, as they continue to mourn their loss.
“ For people to exploit and manipulate the tragedy this family is going through to win political support against Government is heartless.
“Politicians face this kind of nonsense all the time and are used to it but not the ordinary, innocent folks like this grieving family and the tragedy of their loss.
“My personal appeal is to anyone who has information about the accident to pass it on to the police to help with their investigation and hopefully an arrest.”
Lealailepule is a 3rd year going on 4th year politician who would spend 20 years as a Parliamentarian at the end of his new term.
His popularity rating in his electoral constituency made him one of only three candidates elected unopposed in the 9 April 2021 general elections.
The Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi and opposition rival Fiame Naomi Mataafa are the other two.
“Hopefully, we can come up with new legislations in Government to address made up allegations at sensitive times like now.”
“The innocent public has to be protected from the harm these malicious misinformation creates just to win votes.”
The Prime Minster, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has grudgingly accepted that the social media played a dominating influence in the recent general elections.
Absolute freedom on social media to defame with virtual immunity from legal prosecution, has left little decency or respect for the dignity of political leaders. The savagery of the abuse has never before been seen or felt.
A decision to shut the social media down during the election period is pending while Government weighs up the full impact of doing so.
